Golfing Highlights Column 7-23-10

New management at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club joined the foursome for this photo that toured the front nine of the golf course recently, including, from the left, Monticello golfer John Hofmann, Golfing Highights Columnist Ed Townsend, General Manager Rob Allison, Liberty golfer Dean Winters, Neversink golfer Rodney "Taylor" Jester and Food & Beverage Manager Mike Stoddard.

Front Nine Greets Tennanah Golfers

Golfers making their first trip to the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club will find a new general manager (Rob Allison) , a totally renovated clubhouse, both interior and exterior, an enlarged pro show that is very well stocked, an expanded dining area and grill and the ever popular outside dining decks which offers golfers a 60-mile panoramic view of the magnificent Catskill Mountains.
The Grill restaurant is being managed by Food & Beverage Manager Mike Stoddard with the restaurant serving lunch, breakfast and dinner. Call the club for restaurant hours.
Jimmy Bowers Jr. is the golf course superintendent.
The golf facilities also offers a putting green and driving range.
The facilities also include two tennis courts, a heated pool, stay and play packages and catering facilities at Wolf's Catering.
Tennanah Lake is the oldest golf course operating in Sullivan County.
Tee times reservations and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or at their web site, http://www.tennanah.com/
This week we will outline the front nine 1-9 and offer suggestions on how these holes should be played.
Hole No. 1 is a 355-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. Take your tee shot to the left center. A trap is on the right front section of this green.
Hole No. 2 is a 547-yard par 5 featuring a narrow opening in front of the tee but the fairway then opens up some 75 to 100 yards from the tee. A straight tee shot is a must here or a lot of trouble will greet you on the left and right. A sand trap is on the left side of the green. A long-straight tee shot and a solid second shot slightly down hill makes this green reachable in two and a good par or birdie possibility.
Hole No. 3 is a 379-yard par 4 slightly uphill with a dogleg left. Best tee shot is right center on top of the hill. From here there is still a slight uphill shot. From 50 to 60 yards from the green there is a small deep ditch and it runs all the way across the fairway.
Hole No. 4 is a 192-yard par 3. Drive it left center and there is a trap on the left side of this new green. Takes a long iron or 3 to 5 wood to reach the green.
Hole No. 5 is a 358-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. Some trees will come into play if you hit left.
Hole No. 6 is a 413-yard par 4 which presents to every golfer one of the smallest openings from the tee to the fairway we have ever seen. After a real straight tee shot the fairway does open up to the left but there are trees to the right. Best tee shot is left center. Some 100 yards from the tee there is another ditch which runs across the fairway. A trap on the left and right side of the green also is a challenge.
Hole No. 7 is a 435-yard par 5 and the fairway runs straight uphill. This is where you let it all out with a long tee shot and a long iron or three wood from the fairway. A trap is on the right side of the green. Long ball hitters can go for the birdie on this hole.
Hole No. 8 is a 312-yard par 4. Sand traps are on the left and right side of the green and a large tree stands almost in front of the green which makes for an interesting approach shot to the green.
Hole No. 9 is a 190-yard par 3 and is slightly uphill and seems to play longer than 190 yards. A tough par 3 with a new green but a good tee shot to the green almost results in a par. Sand traps are at the front and back of this green.

The Golf Tip By Robert Menges

In today's ever-changing golf game, most players are under the influence that if they hit the ball longer they will play better.
Even though technology has increased how far the ball will travel, the scores are about the same. There is no doubt that if you hit the ball longer you should have less club to the green and be able to get the ball closer to the hole and make more putts.
I believe this to be true, but you better be able to hit the shots on the green close to the pin.
To do this it's important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most golfers have a pitching wedge with 47-49 degrees of loft.
You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60-64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball.
A lob wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in between yardages in the fairway.
You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54-57 degrees of loft.
The next time you play a round of golf, count how many shots you take from 100 yards to the hole. I think you will find that this will total about 60 percent of your score.
When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.
Robert Menges is the golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, Ed can be reached at 845-292-0323 or by e-mail at menges@hughes.net

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, please call Ed at 845-439-8177, by e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a more expanded version of this golf column visit our web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is also available on Facebook.